Today's Opinions

When we think about the economic health of the Lincoln Trail region, it’s clear our eight-county area has a lot going for it.

We’re seeing investments from both new companies and businesses already operating in our communities. Our entrepreneurial culture has led to many successful start-ups. Employers in a wide array of industries are now hiring. And thanks to attributes such as our logistics-friendly location and business-friendly climate, our economic forecast is just as bright.

It has been a busy week in our state capitol. From continuing work to craft a budget, presenting bills before committees, and the release of a pension reform measure, there has been no shortage of activity.

Putting guns in the hands of teachers is not the answer to enhancing school safety.
The idea routinely pops up on social media comments following a mass shooting at a school such as what happened in Marshall County High School last month or Parkland, Florida last week.
People voicing their opinions on social media is one thing, though. It is a completely different issue for lawmakers to seriously consider allowing teachers to go armed.

Editor’s note: The following post was written on Facebook by the owner of Kentucky Gun Company in Bardstown regarding the advertisement that can be seen wrapped around the front page of this week’s edition.

One afternoon in May 1918, my 12-year-old grandfather was walking home from school in Louisville when he encountered a man from his neighborhood.
Run home fast, the man said, your father’s dead.
With this abrupt message, my grandfather sprinted home, tears streaming down his face. His father had died from “edema of the lungs,” which was brought about by complications from influenza.

End the violence
Another day. Another deadly school shooting. This time in Florida. Seventeen dead.
How many more kids and teachers have to die in our schools before elected officials do what's required to stop it? We have become a nation of violence and the NRA propaganda has infected our culture.
We now have a gun violence crisis and an opioid crisis. When will we all come to our senses and demand that these politicians who champion NRA "gun rights" give back the millions of dollars they get from them?

Last week in Frankfort marked the halfway point of the 2018 legislative session. Kentucky is a robust state, with many incredibly good traits, and some serious issues still to tackle. Every two years in Frankfort, the legislature is charged with crafting a budget to fund important government programs like education, public safety and transportation, just to name a few.

My hair has always stood out in the crowd. It’s big, curly, and what a casting agency considers an “afro,” but most of all beautiful. I have fully embraced my curls since junior high, but all years prior to this were the polar opposite. I hated my hair, I hated my skin and I hated who I was.